Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-06-02
A SUNFISH WRECK.
How 1t Was Finally Brought Into
Port.

io" ocaooHo aSo, Reports OI SOOd
fishing drew me to the mouth of the st.
Johns, in Florida--a more retired spot
it twould perhaps be difficult to find. On
each side of the rivers mouth stood
little hamlet = the one on the north
bank being the home Of the genial pi-
lots who followed their adventurous
calling off shore. The houses were
built literally upon an ancient oyster
bed, and by digging down few feet,
the shells were found interspersed with
broken pottery Of race lost to all in
tents and purposes, now represented by
these few crude remains.
In former years, the river flowed
over the spot, and the oysters grew,
flourished and built up the bank higher
and higher, until finally it reached the
surface, the floating matter coming
down the river, then lodging among
them and increasing the deposit The
oysters were killed by the pottery
makers, and the shells heaped up until
at last the river was pushed to the
south, and the old bed became part
of the land proper.
On the opposite bank stood the little
town of Mayport, ever threatened by
the fine sand that lies in heaps and
mounds like snow.
was shown heap of this, that was
said to conceal house, and it was evil
dent that constant care alone prevented
the gardens of the place from being
covered. When the wind was high the
sand rose in the air in clouds, was
whirled aloft, taking strange shapes,
and borne away over the dunes far in
land, so Mayport was not particularly
attractive place.
The men were nearly all fishermen,
and many of them descendants of the
old Minorcans who were brought to
st. Augustine so many years ago and
so cruelty treated.
The st. Johns at the mouth is over a
mile across, and has several channels
that are liable to change at any mo-
ment; the outward current acting in
one way, and the waves of the ocean
directly against it in opposition, Sc
there is continual warfare. In the
middle of the mouth these two oppos-
ing forces have heaped up long sand
bar, that to-day is an island and to-
morrow shoal several feet under
water, and withal a dangerous spot,
marked at the time of my visit by the
walking-beam of steamer that had
gone ashore.
Rut the mouth of the river is not al.
ways the scene of contest. Many days,
even in winter, the water is as smooth
as glass, presenting an unruffled sur
face; the rustling of the palmetto leaves
dies away, and not q sound breaks the
stiffness.
On such day, was watching
shark line that was fastened to tree
and led into the water, patiently await
ing a bite, when there rose hal
from far away. Again it came, ano
turning, saw man on the shore a
Pilot Town, waving his arm and point
ing down the river, and soon boat pu
out, headed for the great shoaL
Not vessel was in sight, as
searched the horizon, but finally, oil
the shoal, nearly in front of me, l saw
what was evidently the object of thei
attention. At first it appeared like
spar that had grounded, but 1t had
curious swaying motion that showed
possessed life, and soon it developed
into giant sunfish. which had gon'
ashore on the bar. 1t had, in fact, be
come a wreck, as with all its might.
struggles it could not move, and mere
ly swung about, falling over, and beat
ing the water into foam to right itsel
again, becoming still more firml.,
stranded. Its struggles increased as
became involved in greater difficulties
and its efforts to regain deeper waite
were worthy greater success; but Tn
big sunfish was almost a total wreck
and the wreekers were already on 1t
track.
how a fish could run ashore like
ship, can not be realized until we Sc
the outline of the suntish. In tn
language of sailors, it draws NOR
water for its size than any fish tina
swims. Looking at it from the side,
is an almost perfect oval and in ia s
Mediterranean sea it is called "a
moonfsh; but if we look at it from tn
front it is seen TO be as nat as
founder. so that. while one could nc
swim upright in eight feet OF water, :,
could float on its side in one foot IL